A LIMITED edition Manny Pacquiao collectible has been put on sale online for P1.2 million by its owner, an avid sports collector and self-confessed fan of the Filipino boxing icon.
The item is a Manny Pacquiao Gold Funko Pop Asia Exclusive, signed by Pacquiao himself and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. What made it so rare is that only 10 pieces were released worldwide since its launch during a Funko Pop event named Mindstyle event in 2015.
“The Pacman was acquired through a friend,” said the seller Darren Khoo, who also collects NBA and WWE Funko Pops.
“(I’m) recently planning for my engagement. I have to reduce my collection to get a new place,” he said.
Khoo, who is a graduate of architecture, is a known Funko Pop collector as vouched by members of the Funko Philippines community.
“I built a reputation already in the Funko industry,” he said.
In the United States, a similar item was put on sale for $15,000, but without the signature of the Pacman, the world’s only eight-division world boxing champion.
This just proves the marketability of Pacquiao and anything made in his image.
Other Pacquiao Funko Pops are the regular boxing and basketball figures, with prices ranging from P5,000 to P15,000.
The Funko Pop is a small vinyl figurine, whose design is derived from popular characters from movies and television, celebrities and brands. The figure has a large head and small body, with large, circular black eyes.
They have become so popular for collectors, who shell out insane amounts just to get a hold on the most exclusive editions.
The most expensive Funko Pop to date is the Willy Wonka & Oompa Loompa (Golden Ticket), which was sold for $100,000 (P5.5 million). The pair of figurines were characters from the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
It is said that only 10 of them were made, although only four were released during the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive toy convention in California.